Hawk Alerts (Emergency Notifications)

Why: Hawk Alerts (Emergency Notification) are triggered by an event that is currently occurring on or imminently threatening the campus. The Department of Public Safety initiates Hawk Alerts for any significant emergency or dangerous situation occurring on the campus involving an immediate threat to the health or safety of students and employees.

Where: Applies to situations that occur on the University of Iowa campus.

When: Initiated immediately upon confirmation that a dangerous situation or emergency exists or threatens.

How: By phone, text, email, website and digital signage on campus.

Crime Alerts (Timely Warnings)

Scope: Narrow focus on Clery Act crimes.

Why: Crime Alerts (Timely Warnings) are triggered by crimes that have already occurred but represent an ongoing threat. The Department issues a crime alert for any Clery Act crime committed on the University of Iowa's Clery geography that is reported to campus security authorities or a local law enforcement agency, that is considered to by the institution to represent a continuing threats to students and employees.

Where: Applies to crimes that occur on the University of Iowa's Clery geography.

When: Issued as soon as pertinent information is available.

How: By sending a mass email to all students and employees.

Crime Alert Policy

When the Director of Public Safety or his designee receives a report of a crime, it is reviewed to determine if there is a serious or continuing threat to the campus community. In the event a crime is reported, that in the judgment of the Director of Public Safety or his designee constitutes a serious or continuing threat to the campus community, but does not rise to the level of a campus emergency, a campus wide crime alert will be issued in
the form of a “crime alert” email.

Crime Alerts are typically issued for the following Uniform Crime Reporting Program (UCR)/National Incident Based Reporting System (NIBRS) crime classifications:

Murder/Non-Negligent Manslaughter

Aggravated Assault (cases involving assaults among known parties, such as two roommates fighting which results in an aggravated injury, will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis to determine if the individual is believed to be an ongoing threat to the larger University community).

Robbery involving force or violence (cases including pick pocketing and purse snatching will typically not result in the issuance of a Timely Warning Notice, but will be assessed on a case-by-case basis).

Rape and Fondling are considered on a case-by-case basis depending on the facts of the case, when and where the incident occurred, when it was reported, and the amount of information known by the Director of Public Safety. In cases involving sexual assault, they are often reported long after the incident occurred, thus there is no ability to distribute a “timely” warning notice to the community. All cases of sexual assault, including stranger and non-stranger/acquaintance cases, will be assessed for potential issuance of a Crime Alert notice.

Major incidents of Arson

Other Clery Act crimes as determined necessary by Director of Public Safety, or his or her designee in his or her absence.

The Director of Public Safety or his designee will develop the crime alert and issue it to the community by mass email. The mass email will be sent to all University of Iowa community members at their uiowa.edu email address with the pertinent facts and details of the crime known to the UI Department of Public Safety and, if relevant, any suspect information and suggestions for protective measures a person could take.

The Clery Act requires the names of victims be withheld as confidential from the crime alert. The decision to issue a crime alert will be decided on a case by case basis in light of all the facts surrounding a crime, including factors such as the amount of information known by the UI Department of Public Safety, the nature of the crime, the possible risk of compromising law enforcement efforts, and whether there is a continuing danger to
campus community.